8 Interesting Facts About Alzheimer’s

8 Facts About Alzheimer's ​

Alzheimer’s​​​​ disease is a form of dementia. It is a progressive mental deterioration condition with its most commonly known and experienced symptom being memory loss. It is seen in aging adults from ages 40+. Managing Alzheimer’s is a hard and humbling learning experience for everyone involved. ​

​Although it can be alarming, it can be managed. Home Instead Senior Care provides
home care​ for aging seniors and our
CAREGivers​ are trained to help manage and provide care for seniors afflicted by the disease. ​

Below are some facts on the disease.​​​​​​

1. Nearly half of adults aged 85 and over have Alzheimer’s disease.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, an estimated 45% of American seniors 85 and older suffer from Alzheimer’s, and one in eight people aged 65 and over (13%) has Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.

2. Out of approximately 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer’s, more than half may not know they have it.

In part because of the difficulty with detecting early-stage Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), many of those with Alzheimer’s remain undiagnosed.

3. More women than men have Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that nearly two-thirds of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s are women. The primary reason for this statistic is that women generally live longer than men.

4. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can develop in people as young as age 30.

We may think of Alzheimer’s as a disease of the elderly, but up to 5% of Americans with Alzheimer’s (around 200,000) have the early-onset, which usually appears in one’s 50s or 40s, but can start to show symptoms as early as one’s 30s.

5. In America, a new case of Alzheimer’s develops every 68 seconds; by 2050, the incidence will increase to every 33 seconds.

​Reason being people are living longer now.

6. Alzheimer’s is the 6th-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the 5th-leading cause of death in adults aged 65 and over.

“Alzheimer’s is becoming a more common cause of death as the populations of the United States and other countries age,” reports the Alzheimer’s Association.

7. Over 15 million Americans are unpaid caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

Family caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients provide a whopping 80% of the care provided to AD patients at home, while a mere 10 percent of seniors receive all their care from paid health professionals.

The communication difficulties and personality changes of Alzheimer’s disease can place incredible strain on caregivers. “The close relationship between the caregiver and the impaired person—a relationship involving shared emotions, experiences and memories—may particularly place caregivers at risk for psychological and physical illness” (Facts and Figures).

If you are looking for home care services for your aging loved one reach out to Home Instead Senior Care. Our trained and trusted CAREGivers can provide the care your loved one needs. Learn more about our Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias​​ care services.​